SEVEN rural polling stations in East Lothian will be closed – leaving many residents having to drive to their nearest polling place to vote.

Polling stations in Bolton, East Saltoun, Morham, Oldhamstocks, Spott, Tyninghame and Whittingehame were axed by councillors last Tuesday morning.

The decision, taken at a meeting of East Lothian Council, was opposed by each member of the Conservative Group but passed by the Labour, SNP and Green councillors.

Councillor George McGuire, leader of the Conservative Group on the local authority, said: “A number of the closures that are recommended are for rural communities, a number of which fall within my ward of Haddington and Lammermuir, such as Morham, East Saltoun and Bolton.

“Public transport is certainly going to be very challenging for them.

“We are going to be encouraging people to go out and drive to go and vote. This will lead to safety issues, potentially, and encourages use of cars and longer journeys.

“In effect, that will lead to voter suppression, potentially, lower turnout rates and disparity, which is wholly inappropriate.

“I cannot support these proposals that affect our rural voters and communities.”

'Undermines local democracy'

Mr McGuire was backed by Craig Hoy, a South Scotland MSP who previously represented the Haddington and Lammermuir ward as a councillor.

Mr Hoy said: “Measures voted through by Labour, SNP and Green councillors mean residents in and around East Saltoun, Bolton, Morham, Whittingehame, Tyninghame, Spott and Oldhamstocks will all lose their village polling stations.

“This is a worrying move which undermines local democracy, particularly for rural and elderly voters.

“I will fight for rural communities who are sadly losing key services.”

A public consultation was held in December and January, with 18 comments from the public received.

Criteria, including availability, accessibility, safety, current electorate and projected electorate, were used in assessing the future of polling places across the country.

Two changes – moving the polling place from Pencaitland’s Trevelyan Hall to the village’s bowling club, and moving the polling place from a portable container at Fenton Barns to Dirleton Church Hall – will take place with immediate effect, while the remaining alterations will come into force after the next UK parliamentary election.

Changes planned

Changes will also be made in Musselburgh as the town is split into two seats for Westminster elections.

Musselburgh Rugby Club, Northesk Parish Church Hall and Our Lady of Loretto Church Hall will all be in the Edinburgh East constituency, while Musselburgh East Community Learning Centre remains in the newly named Lothian East.

Meanwhile, in the Preston Seton Gosford ward, Blindwells residents will vote at the Port Seton Centre.

No changes are proposed for the Tranent, Wallyford and Macmerry ward, and there are no further changes in the North Berwick Coastal ward other than those involving Fenton Barns.

In the Haddington and Lammermuir ward, residents in East Saltoun will head to Pencaitland, while Bolton residents will travel to Gifford and Morham residents to Garvald.

Finally, there will also be changes in the Dunbar and East Linton ward.

Stenton Village Hall will welcome residents from Whittingehame, and East Linton residents will be joined by voters from nearby Tyninghame.

The Bleachingfield Centre in Dunbar will be the destination for Spott residents, while Innerwick Village Hall will host residents from nearby Oldhamstocks.

Morag Ferguson, who is stepping down as head of corporate support at East Lothian Council this month, acknowledged that the changes could result in possible difficulties for some voters.

She said work would have to be done to highlight other voting methods, such as postal voting and proxy voting.